2017 Hot 100May 8, 2017 by Brentt Eads
2021 Hot 100: Players 100-91
2021 Hot 100: Players 100-91
Class 2021 Hot 100: Softball Players 100-91. Today we feature players No. 100 to 91 who come from Arizona, California (4), Florida, Georgia (4), Illinois and Texas.
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Today, we begin our look at the talent in the Class of 2021. As we reveal the Hot 100 prospects over the next two weeks, we're spotlighting 10 outstanding players each day counting down from No. 100 to No. 1.
We'll announce the Top 10 of the class on Friday, May 19. Shortly after the rankings, we will profile the No. 1 player and then list the "Next In" classes comprising recruits Nos. 101-200, 201-300, 301-400, and 401-500!
FloSoftball has ranked the Hot 100 beginning with the 2014 Class and has done every grad year since including 2015, '16, '17, '18, '19 and '20. We've also updated most of those years several times (the 2019 Hot 100 being the most recent, updated in February).
And as for the 2021s--who are in the eighth grade, even though many are playing up at the varsity high school level already--we'll update the Hot 100 list several times too over the next five years as current stars improve and unknown players emerge (like current Oregon freshman pitching sensation Maggie Balint, who went from not being ranked in the initial 2016 list to Top 5 in the final updated Hot 100).
These 2021 honorees were chosen based on input and feedback from college and club coaches as well as our own FloSoftball events and in-person observations.
Criteria for choosing and ranking the players includes performances at the club and high school levels and projecting how they will play at the collegiate level.
Today, we feature players No. 100 to 91, who come from Arizona, California (four), Florida, Georgia (four), Illinois, and Texas.
***
100--Bella Flexen MIF... Athletics - Mercado/Sosa (uncommitted)
Flexen is a skilled middle infielder with range and excellent hands. She played for highly ranked Power Surge out of San Diego last year before joining one of the top 14U programs in the country with David Mercado and Joe Sosa's A's team. Flexen trains with 2020 Hot 100 middle infielder Presleigh Pilon, an LSU commit, and has all the athletic skills you want defensively and offensively. She's a slapper who knows how to get on base and can also hit for power. One coach of Bella noted, "She's crazy good and only getting stronger." Flexen was part of the USA Select 30 camp last summer and is taking unofficial visits to Pac-12 schools this year. Many feel she'll be committed by the end of the year.
99--Kelby Robbins 1B/3B... Texas Glory (uncommitted)
Robbins has advanced game skills as she's the daughter of Glory coach Reed Robbins, who has led the organization's 12U team. His daughter, however, plays for Ed Naudin's talented 14U team that, year-in and year-out, is usually one of the last teams standing at PGF Nationals. Her strength is in the batter's box where she does well consistently in going with the pitch and driving the ball to all fields. The Texan routinely delivers the extra base hit in the gap and on defense is a calm and seasoned leader. Robbins strong arm also makes her an outstanding catcher where her field general skills really shine. She can also play the corners well and could even end up at second base because of her versatile skills and abilities.
98--Cameron Orland MIF... Florida Storm -- Sacco (uncommitted)
Orland, one of the key returners on the Storm team that went 49-8 in the fall. On defense, she shows great range in the middle of the infield. At the plate, she exhibits line-drive power. Her strength, structure, and softball knowledge makes her an elite offensive player. Orland hit .489 with nine homers, six triples, 12 doubles, and 32 steals last year for coach Addison Davis. Her defensive skills are also smooth as she had a .992 fielding percentage playing against top national competition. Orland is being recruited by SEC, ACC, Big 12, and Sun Belt teams. She's been on many SEC campuses for individual workouts, including Florida and Arkansas.
97--Rebekah Durazo C... So Cal Choppers -- Fausett (uncommitted)
Durazo is one of the standouts on Gary Fausett's team that is a favorite at the 14U level to win it all. She came up from the 12U level and will trade innings with 2020 Hot 100 catcher Alyssa Kaneshiro this year. On defense, she has a well-rounded skill set highlighted by a gun for an arm. At the plate, Durazo is a power hitter who sprays the ball to all fields and was on fire this winter as she hit close to .700 for the Choppers. She's honed her craft by working in a cage in her backyard and said another So Cal club coach, "Rebekah is a catcher I would love to have on my team as she can swing it. She will be getting big-time attention very soon."
96--Paige Dimler OF... So Cal Breakers -- Labs (uncommitted)
Dimler is a versatile player who, at 5-foot-9, can do many things at a high level on the field. Last year as a second year 12U player, she played at PGF Nationals with the Breakers 14U team and hit over. 500 for the week. She can play center field, first base and pitch. As a lefty, she throws in the upper 50s. But it's her talent with the bat that makes her a top-rated player. She can slap for average and has the natural ability to hit for power to all fields. This past season, Dimler hit 17 home runs -- including two grand slams -- while batting over .550 and compiled a 1.025 slugging percentage and 1.562 OPS for coach Robert Labs. The Vista, CA, standout is also a top contact hitter who only struck out nine times in 200 at-bats. She's been invited to the prestigious OnDeck Camp this summer and will also be watched closely by scouts at Boulder IDT and PGF Nationals.
T-95--McKenna Feringa P/1B... Mizuno Storm - Mathis/Holtorf (uncommitted)
Feringa is a dual threat who in the circle has good spins and can throw in the upper 50s. But one coach says, "That's secondary right now to her offense." A lefty power hitter who is a threat to go yard anytime, Feringa has slugged 13 home runs this year with the majority of them being in the last four tournaments. She is just starting to get good looks from schools, and this will be a big summer for her."
T-95--Sophia Voyles P... Impact Gold -- Lang (uncommitted)
Voyle was a key factor in leading Chris Lang's 2021 team to a third-place finish at the USSSA Select Elite World Series last year as she went undefeated and had a 0.60 ERA, the second lowest in the tournament. The Georgia hurler throws at three different speeds and her curve has RPMs exceeding 28. One coach commented, "This tough pitch curves and hovers, making it very difficult to hit." Voyles has had a strong fall and winter, too, throwing mostly one and two-hitters averaging over 1.4 Ks per inning. She throws in the high 50s, but it's the curve -- which is effective against both righties and lefties. Her drop and screwball combo along with a true change that makes her tough to hit. Sophia recently tossed a three-hitter with nine strikeouts against a Top 25 14U team in the FloSoftball FAB 50. She's attended several camps and will see her stock soar this summer.
94--Kendall Lundberg C... Ohana Tigers -- Natividad (uncommitted)
Lundberg played last year with the Tigers-Sanchez team that was ranked by FloSoftball as a Top 10 FAB 50 preseason 12U squad and ended up finishing 13th at PGF Nationals. She was the team leader in several offensive categories including RBIs, runs and home runs and one coach said she was the "heart and soul" of the team. She's a top student of catching guru Jen Schroeder and has all the skills you want in a backstop: a very strong arm, a competitive temperament on the field, and the ability to control the game and manage pitchers. Offensively, Lundberg is a clutch hitter who shines in spotlight moments. The So Cal catcher has also been invited to the OnDeck Jamboree next month. She has good softball DNA too. Her older sister, Kylie, is a sophomore at Oklahoma was ranked in the 2015 Hot 100.
93--Larissa Ortiz C/3B... Beverly Bandits Futures -- Stephens (uncommitted)
Ortiz is another catcher with across-the-board skills who will play at a high level (Big Ten schools are already after the Illinois standout). Behind the plate, she has good size and athletic prowess with the quickness and range to play third at a high level as well. Ortiz is a gap to gap hitter who will the potential to turn into a power hitter. One coach noted, "Once Larissa ends up consistently keeping her hands inside the ball, she'll be a beast." Derek Allister of OnDeck Softball said, "She is big and strong, but is a good athlete... she reminds me of Shannon Rhodes, the talented Texas kid now at Oregon. You watch Larissa and think, 'This kid is going to be a really good one.'"
92--Kelsie Walker SS/OF... Impact Gold -- Lang (uncommitted)
Walker brings speed, power and excellent defensive skills to the field and is known for her offensive versatility as she can hit for power or beat you with the short game thanks to her foot speed. She plays short and outfield for her team and this year the right-hander has hit .445 with an on-base percentage of .510. Showing she can go deep thanks to her strength and bat speed, the Georgia standout has hit seven out-of-the-park home runs and five inside-the-park round-trippers over the past season. With true 2.70 home-to-first speed -- Walker was the fastest timed athlete at two camps she attended. She was invited to LSU and Alabama camps and will visit several more this summer.
T-91--Emma Worley P... Georgia Academy Power - Worley (uncommitted)
Worley is an imposing figure in the circle as she stands 5-foot-10 and throws in the low 60s. She mixes her curve, rise and drop ball. She has led her teams to the ASA Nationals the last two years at the 12U and 14U levels and last season compiled a 1.38 ERA for her first-year 14U team. Worley was invited to participate in the Champions Summer Elite Showcase 14U All-Star Game last year and this fall as a freshman, she is expected to compete in the circle for her Georgia varsity team which plays at the 7A level. The intimidating hurler is already drawing interest from several Division I schools that like her tall frame, work ethic, and mental toughness. An excellent all-around athlete, she was selected all-region for her middle school basketball team.
T-91--Morgan Hall C/OF... East Cobb Bullets -- Byars (uncommitted)
Hall continues the run of outstanding talent in the Peach State as she combines great strength with impressive athletic abilities. She has great power, and the ball jumps off her bat when she squares one up. Hall has strong backstop skills but also has the agility and quickness to play in the outfield. Along with her aggressive instincts on the basepaths, she leads off because she can hit for a high average and hit for extra bases. For her school team last fall, Hall hit .444 with six home runs and had a .700 on-base percentage. She has been a two-time USA Elite Direct Select pick and is expected to start for her Brookwood (Georgia) high school this fall. Multiple DI colleges, including schools in the ACC and SEC, are recruiting the versatile student-athlete who also plays in her school's band and is the lead dancer on her school's dance team -- all while supporting her special needs older sister. That quality of character is being noticed by schools ranging from Arizona, North Carolina State, Florida, Georgia, Central Florida, and Ivy League programs.
We'll announce the Top 10 of the class on Friday, May 19. Shortly after the rankings, we will profile the No. 1 player and then list the "Next In" classes comprising recruits Nos. 101-200, 201-300, 301-400, and 401-500!
FloSoftball has ranked the Hot 100 beginning with the 2014 Class and has done every grad year since including 2015, '16, '17, '18, '19 and '20. We've also updated most of those years several times (the 2019 Hot 100 being the most recent, updated in February).
And as for the 2021s--who are in the eighth grade, even though many are playing up at the varsity high school level already--we'll update the Hot 100 list several times too over the next five years as current stars improve and unknown players emerge (like current Oregon freshman pitching sensation Maggie Balint, who went from not being ranked in the initial 2016 list to Top 5 in the final updated Hot 100).
These 2021 honorees were chosen based on input and feedback from college and club coaches as well as our own FloSoftball events and in-person observations.
Criteria for choosing and ranking the players includes performances at the club and high school levels and projecting how they will play at the collegiate level.
Today, we feature players No. 100 to 91, who come from Arizona, California (four), Florida, Georgia (four), Illinois, and Texas.
***
100--Bella Flexen MIF... Athletics - Mercado/Sosa (uncommitted)
Flexen is a skilled middle infielder with range and excellent hands. She played for highly ranked Power Surge out of San Diego last year before joining one of the top 14U programs in the country with David Mercado and Joe Sosa's A's team. Flexen trains with 2020 Hot 100 middle infielder Presleigh Pilon, an LSU commit, and has all the athletic skills you want defensively and offensively. She's a slapper who knows how to get on base and can also hit for power. One coach of Bella noted, "She's crazy good and only getting stronger." Flexen was part of the USA Select 30 camp last summer and is taking unofficial visits to Pac-12 schools this year. Many feel she'll be committed by the end of the year.
99--Kelby Robbins 1B/3B... Texas Glory (uncommitted)Robbins has advanced game skills as she's the daughter of Glory coach Reed Robbins, who has led the organization's 12U team. His daughter, however, plays for Ed Naudin's talented 14U team that, year-in and year-out, is usually one of the last teams standing at PGF Nationals. Her strength is in the batter's box where she does well consistently in going with the pitch and driving the ball to all fields. The Texan routinely delivers the extra base hit in the gap and on defense is a calm and seasoned leader. Robbins strong arm also makes her an outstanding catcher where her field general skills really shine. She can also play the corners well and could even end up at second base because of her versatile skills and abilities.
98--Cameron Orland MIF... Florida Storm -- Sacco (uncommitted) Orland, one of the key returners on the Storm team that went 49-8 in the fall. On defense, she shows great range in the middle of the infield. At the plate, she exhibits line-drive power. Her strength, structure, and softball knowledge makes her an elite offensive player. Orland hit .489 with nine homers, six triples, 12 doubles, and 32 steals last year for coach Addison Davis. Her defensive skills are also smooth as she had a .992 fielding percentage playing against top national competition. Orland is being recruited by SEC, ACC, Big 12, and Sun Belt teams. She's been on many SEC campuses for individual workouts, including Florida and Arkansas.
97--Rebekah Durazo C... So Cal Choppers -- Fausett (uncommitted) Durazo is one of the standouts on Gary Fausett's team that is a favorite at the 14U level to win it all. She came up from the 12U level and will trade innings with 2020 Hot 100 catcher Alyssa Kaneshiro this year. On defense, she has a well-rounded skill set highlighted by a gun for an arm. At the plate, Durazo is a power hitter who sprays the ball to all fields and was on fire this winter as she hit close to .700 for the Choppers. She's honed her craft by working in a cage in her backyard and said another So Cal club coach, "Rebekah is a catcher I would love to have on my team as she can swing it. She will be getting big-time attention very soon."
96--Paige Dimler OF... So Cal Breakers -- Labs (uncommitted) Dimler is a versatile player who, at 5-foot-9, can do many things at a high level on the field. Last year as a second year 12U player, she played at PGF Nationals with the Breakers 14U team and hit over. 500 for the week. She can play center field, first base and pitch. As a lefty, she throws in the upper 50s. But it's her talent with the bat that makes her a top-rated player. She can slap for average and has the natural ability to hit for power to all fields. This past season, Dimler hit 17 home runs -- including two grand slams -- while batting over .550 and compiled a 1.025 slugging percentage and 1.562 OPS for coach Robert Labs. The Vista, CA, standout is also a top contact hitter who only struck out nine times in 200 at-bats. She's been invited to the prestigious OnDeck Camp this summer and will also be watched closely by scouts at Boulder IDT and PGF Nationals.
T-95--McKenna Feringa P/1B... Mizuno Storm - Mathis/Holtorf (uncommitted) Feringa is a dual threat who in the circle has good spins and can throw in the upper 50s. But one coach says, "That's secondary right now to her offense." A lefty power hitter who is a threat to go yard anytime, Feringa has slugged 13 home runs this year with the majority of them being in the last four tournaments. She is just starting to get good looks from schools, and this will be a big summer for her."
T-95--Sophia Voyles P... Impact Gold -- Lang (uncommitted) Voyle was a key factor in leading Chris Lang's 2021 team to a third-place finish at the USSSA Select Elite World Series last year as she went undefeated and had a 0.60 ERA, the second lowest in the tournament. The Georgia hurler throws at three different speeds and her curve has RPMs exceeding 28. One coach commented, "This tough pitch curves and hovers, making it very difficult to hit." Voyles has had a strong fall and winter, too, throwing mostly one and two-hitters averaging over 1.4 Ks per inning. She throws in the high 50s, but it's the curve -- which is effective against both righties and lefties. Her drop and screwball combo along with a true change that makes her tough to hit. Sophia recently tossed a three-hitter with nine strikeouts against a Top 25 14U team in the FloSoftball FAB 50. She's attended several camps and will see her stock soar this summer.
94--Kendall Lundberg C... Ohana Tigers -- Natividad (uncommitted) Lundberg played last year with the Tigers-Sanchez team that was ranked by FloSoftball as a Top 10 FAB 50 preseason 12U squad and ended up finishing 13th at PGF Nationals. She was the team leader in several offensive categories including RBIs, runs and home runs and one coach said she was the "heart and soul" of the team. She's a top student of catching guru Jen Schroeder and has all the skills you want in a backstop: a very strong arm, a competitive temperament on the field, and the ability to control the game and manage pitchers. Offensively, Lundberg is a clutch hitter who shines in spotlight moments. The So Cal catcher has also been invited to the OnDeck Jamboree next month. She has good softball DNA too. Her older sister, Kylie, is a sophomore at Oklahoma was ranked in the 2015 Hot 100.
93--Larissa Ortiz C/3B... Beverly Bandits Futures -- Stephens (uncommitted) Ortiz is another catcher with across-the-board skills who will play at a high level (Big Ten schools are already after the Illinois standout). Behind the plate, she has good size and athletic prowess with the quickness and range to play third at a high level as well. Ortiz is a gap to gap hitter who will the potential to turn into a power hitter. One coach noted, "Once Larissa ends up consistently keeping her hands inside the ball, she'll be a beast." Derek Allister of OnDeck Softball said, "She is big and strong, but is a good athlete... she reminds me of Shannon Rhodes, the talented Texas kid now at Oregon. You watch Larissa and think, 'This kid is going to be a really good one.'"
92--Kelsie Walker SS/OF... Impact Gold -- Lang (uncommitted) Walker brings speed, power and excellent defensive skills to the field and is known for her offensive versatility as she can hit for power or beat you with the short game thanks to her foot speed. She plays short and outfield for her team and this year the right-hander has hit .445 with an on-base percentage of .510. Showing she can go deep thanks to her strength and bat speed, the Georgia standout has hit seven out-of-the-park home runs and five inside-the-park round-trippers over the past season. With true 2.70 home-to-first speed -- Walker was the fastest timed athlete at two camps she attended. She was invited to LSU and Alabama camps and will visit several more this summer.
T-91--Emma Worley P... Georgia Academy Power - Worley (uncommitted) Worley is an imposing figure in the circle as she stands 5-foot-10 and throws in the low 60s. She mixes her curve, rise and drop ball. She has led her teams to the ASA Nationals the last two years at the 12U and 14U levels and last season compiled a 1.38 ERA for her first-year 14U team. Worley was invited to participate in the Champions Summer Elite Showcase 14U All-Star Game last year and this fall as a freshman, she is expected to compete in the circle for her Georgia varsity team which plays at the 7A level. The intimidating hurler is already drawing interest from several Division I schools that like her tall frame, work ethic, and mental toughness. An excellent all-around athlete, she was selected all-region for her middle school basketball team.
T-91--Morgan Hall C/OF... East Cobb Bullets -- Byars (uncommitted) Hall continues the run of outstanding talent in the Peach State as she combines great strength with impressive athletic abilities. She has great power, and the ball jumps off her bat when she squares one up. Hall has strong backstop skills but also has the agility and quickness to play in the outfield. Along with her aggressive instincts on the basepaths, she leads off because she can hit for a high average and hit for extra bases. For her school team last fall, Hall hit .444 with six home runs and had a .700 on-base percentage. She has been a two-time USA Elite Direct Select pick and is expected to start for her Brookwood (Georgia) high school this fall. Multiple DI colleges, including schools in the ACC and SEC, are recruiting the versatile student-athlete who also plays in her school's band and is the lead dancer on her school's dance team -- all while supporting her special needs older sister. That quality of character is being noticed by schools ranging from Arizona, North Carolina State, Florida, Georgia, Central Florida, and Ivy League programs.